diff --git a/engines/scumm/actor.cpp b/engines/scumm/actor.cpp
index 7dcc1a693da..18b3251fbbd 100644
--- a/engines/scumm/actor.cpp
+++ b/engines/scumm/actor.cpp
@@ -2859,7 +2859,10 @@ void ScummEngine::actorTalk(const byte *msg) {
 	}
 
 	if (_game.heversion >= 72 || getTalkingActor() > 0x7F) {
-		_charsetColor = (byte)_string[0].color;
+		if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformNES)
+			_charsetColor = 0; // NES MM intro color is always 0
+		else
+			_charsetColor = (byte)_string[0].color;
 	} else if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformNES) {
 		if (_NES_lastTalkingActor != getTalkingActor())
 			_NES_talkColor ^= 1;
diff --git a/engines/scumm/detection.cpp b/engines/scumm/detection.cpp
index 44f3e281e98..7b78012ac8c 100644
--- a/engines/scumm/detection.cpp
+++ b/engines/scumm/detection.cpp
@@ -1372,11 +1372,21 @@ static const ExtraGuiOption comiObjectLabelsOption = {
 	true
 };
 
+static const ExtraGuiOption mmnesObjectLabelsOption = {
+	_s("Use NES Classic Palette"),
+	_s("Use a more neutral color palette that closely emulates the NES Classic"),
+	"mm_nes_classic_palette",
+	false
+};
+
 const ExtraGuiOptions ScummMetaEngine::getExtraGuiOptions(const Common::String &target) const {
 	ExtraGuiOptions options;
 	if (target.empty() || ConfMan.get("gameid", target) == "comi") {
 		options.push_back(comiObjectLabelsOption);
 	}
+	if (target.empty() || Common::parsePlatform(ConfMan.get("platform", target)) == Common::kPlatformNES) {
+		options.push_back(mmnesObjectLabelsOption);
+	}
 	return options;
 }
 
diff --git a/engines/scumm/gfx.cpp b/engines/scumm/gfx.cpp
index 53666910510..60a7586954f 100644
--- a/engines/scumm/gfx.cpp
+++ b/engines/scumm/gfx.cpp
@@ -423,7 +423,10 @@ void ScummEngine::initVirtScreen(VirtScreenNumber slot, int top, int width, int
 
 	_res->createResource(rtBuffer, slot + 1, size);
 	vs->setPixels(getResourceAddress(rtBuffer, slot + 1));
-	memset(vs->getBasePtr(0, 0), 0, size);	// reset background
+	if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformNES)
+		memset(vs->getBasePtr(0, 0), 0x1d, size);	// reset background (MM NES)
+	else
+		memset(vs->getBasePtr(0, 0), 0, size);		// reset background
 
 	if (twobufs) {
 		vs->backBuf = _res->createResource(rtBuffer, slot + 5, size);
@@ -1036,6 +1039,11 @@ void ScummEngine::restoreBackground(Common::Rect rect, byte backColor) {
 			backColor = _roomPalette[backColor];
 	}
 
+	// MM NES background color is 0x1d
+	if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformNES) {
+		backColor = 0x1d;
+	}
+
 	// Convert 'rect' to local (virtual screen) coordinates
 	rect.top -= vs->topline;
 	rect.bottom -= vs->topline;
@@ -1116,7 +1124,10 @@ void ScummEngine::restoreCharsetBg() {
 			}
 		} else {
 			// Clear area
-			memset(screenBuf, 0, vs->h * vs->pitch);
+			if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformNES)
+				memset(screenBuf, 0x1d, vs->h * vs->pitch);
+			else
+				memset(screenBuf, 0, vs->h * vs->pitch);
 		}
 
 		if (vs->hasTwoBuffers) {
@@ -2562,10 +2573,6 @@ void ScummEngine::NES_loadCostumeSet(int n) {
 	byte *palette = getResourceAddress(rtCostume, v1MMNEScostTables[n][5]) + 2;
 	for (i = 0; i < 16; i++) {
 		byte c = *palette++;
-		if (c == 0x1D)	// HACK - switch around colors 0x00 and 0x1D
-			c = 0;		// so we don't need a zillion extra checks
-		else if (c == 0)// for determining the proper background color
-			c = 0x1D;
 		_NESPalette[1][i] = c;
 	}
 
@@ -2588,14 +2595,6 @@ void GdiNES::decodeNESGfx(const byte *room) {
 	decodeNESTileData(_vm->getResourceAddress(rtCostume, 37 + tileset), _vm->_NESPatTable[1] + _vm->_NESBaseTiles * 16);
 	for (i = 0; i < 16; i++) {
 		byte c = *gdata++;
-		if (c == 0x0D)
-			c = 0x1D;
-
-		if (c == 0x1D)	 // HACK - switch around colors 0x00 and 0x1D
-			c = 0;		 // so we don't need a zillion extra checks
-		else if (c == 0) // for determining the proper background color
-			c = 0x1D;
-
 		_vm->_NESPalette[0][i] = c;
 	}
 	for (i = 0; i < 16; i++) {
@@ -3817,7 +3816,10 @@ void ScummEngine::fadeOut(int effect) {
 	// when bypassed of FT and TheDig.
 	if ((_game.version == 7 || _screenEffectFlag) && effect != 0) {
 		// Fill screen 0 with black
-		memset(vs->getPixels(0, 0), 0, vs->pitch * vs->h);
+		if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformNES)
+			memset(vs->getPixels(0, 0), 0x1d, vs->pitch * vs->h);
+		else
+			memset(vs->getPixels(0, 0), 0, vs->pitch * vs->h);
 
 		// Fade to black with the specified effect, if any.
 		switch (effect) {
diff --git a/engines/scumm/palette.cpp b/engines/scumm/palette.cpp
index fc19b30bc45..556fcc97c5b 100644
--- a/engines/scumm/palette.cpp
+++ b/engines/scumm/palette.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
  *
  */
 
+#include "common/config-manager.h"
 #include "common/system.h"
 #include "common/textconsole.h"
 #include "common/util.h"
@@ -71,26 +72,55 @@ void ScummEngine::resetPalette() {
 		0x7F, 0x3B, 0xA6
 	};
 
-	static const byte tableNESPalette[] = {
-		0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x23, 0x8C, 	0x00, 0x13, 0x9B, 	0x2D, 0x05, 0x85,
-		0x5D, 0x00, 0x52, 	0x7A, 0x00, 0x17, 	0x7A, 0x08, 0x00, 	0x5F, 0x18, 0x00,
-		0x35, 0x2A, 0x00, 	0x09, 0x39, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x3F, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x3C, 0x22,
-		0x00, 0x32, 0x5D, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+	/** This is Mesen's NTSC palette and the new default palette for ScummVM.
+	 *  It was chosen due to the accuracy of Mesen when it comes to emulating a NES
+	 */
+	static const byte tableNESNTSCPalette[] = {
+		0x66, 0x66, 0x66,	0x00, 0x2A, 0x88,	0x14, 0x12, 0xA7,	0x3B, 0x00, 0xA4,
+		0x5C, 0x00, 0x7E,	0x6E, 0x00, 0x40,	0x6C, 0x06, 0x00,	0x56, 0x1D, 0x00,
+		0x33, 0x35, 0x00,	0x0B, 0x48, 0x00,	0x00, 0x52, 0x00,	0x00, 0x4F, 0x08,
+		0x00, 0x40, 0x4D,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
 
-		0xA1, 0xA1, 0xA1, 	0x00, 0x53, 0xEE, 	0x15, 0x3C, 0xFE, 	0x60, 0x28, 0xE4,
-		0xA9, 0x1D, 0x98, 	0xD4, 0x1E, 0x41, 	0xD2, 0x2C, 0x00, 	0xAA, 0x44, 0x00,
-		0x6C, 0x5E, 0x00, 	0x2D, 0x73, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x7D, 0x06, 	0x00, 0x78, 0x52,
-		0x00, 0x69, 0xA9, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+		0xAD, 0xAD, 0xAD,	0x15, 0x5F, 0xD9,	0x42, 0x40, 0xFF,	0x75, 0x27, 0xFE,
+		0xA0, 0x1A, 0xCC,	0xB7, 0x1E, 0x7B,	0xB5, 0x31, 0x20,	0x99, 0x4E, 0x00,
+		0x6B, 0x6D, 0x00,	0x38, 0x87, 0x00,	0x0C, 0x93, 0x00,	0x00, 0x8F, 0x32,
+		0x00, 0x7C, 0x8D,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
 
-		0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 	0x1F, 0xA5, 0xFE, 	0x5E, 0x89, 0xFE, 	0xB5, 0x72, 0xFE,
-		0xFE, 0x65, 0xF6, 	0xFE, 0x67, 0x90, 	0xFE, 0x77, 0x3C, 	0xFE, 0x93, 0x08,
-		0xC4, 0xB2, 0x00, 	0x79, 0xCA, 0x10, 	0x3A, 0xD5, 0x4A, 	0x11, 0xD1, 0xA4,
-		0x06, 0xBF, 0xFE, 	0x42, 0x42, 0x42, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+		0xFF, 0xFE, 0xFF,	0x64, 0xB0, 0xFF,	0x92, 0x90, 0xFF,	0xC6, 0x76, 0xFF,
+		0xF3, 0x6A, 0xFF,	0xFE, 0x6E, 0xCC,	0xFE, 0x81, 0x70,	0xEA, 0x9E, 0x22,
+		0xBC, 0xBE, 0x00,	0x88, 0xD8, 0x00,	0x5C, 0xE4, 0x30,	0x45, 0xE0, 0x82,
+		0x48, 0xCD, 0xDE,	0x4F, 0x4F, 0x4F,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
 
-		0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 	0xA0, 0xD9, 0xFE, 	0xBD, 0xCC, 0xFE, 	0xE1, 0xC2, 0xFE,
-		0xFE, 0xBC, 0xFB, 	0xFE, 0xBD, 0xD0, 	0xFE, 0xC5, 0xA9, 	0xFE, 0xD1, 0x8E,
-		0xE9, 0xDE, 0x86, 	0xC7, 0xE9, 0x92, 	0xA8, 0xEE, 0xB0, 	0x95, 0xEC, 0xD9,
-		0x91, 0xE4, 0xFE, 	0xAC, 0xAC, 0xAC, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 	0x00, 0x00, 0x00
+		0xFF, 0xFE, 0xFF,	0xC0, 0xDF, 0xFF,	0xD3, 0xD2, 0xFF,	0xE8, 0xC8, 0xFF,
+		0xFB, 0xC2, 0xFF,	0xFE, 0xC4, 0xEA,	0xFE, 0xCC, 0xC5,	0xF7, 0xD8, 0xA5,
+		0xE4, 0xE5, 0x94,	0xCF, 0xEF, 0x96,	0xBD, 0xF4, 0xAB,	0xB3, 0xF3, 0xCC,
+		0xB5, 0xEB, 0xF2,	0xB8, 0xB8, 0xB8,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00
+	};
+
+	/** This is an alternative palette based on FirebrandX's NES Classic
+	 * palette. This palette is what Nintendo ships on the NES Classic which
+	 * makes it somewhat of an "official" digital palette for the NES
+	 */
+	static const byte tableNESClassicPalette[] = {
+		0x60, 0x61, 0x5F,	0x00, 0x00, 0x83,	0x1D, 0x01, 0x95,	0x34, 0x08, 0x75,
+		0x51, 0x05, 0x5E,	0x56, 0x00, 0x0F,	0x4C, 0x07, 0x00,	0x37, 0x23, 0x08,
+		0x20, 0x3A, 0x0B,	0x0F, 0x4B, 0x0E,	0x19, 0x4C, 0x16,	0x02, 0x42, 0x1E,
+		0x02, 0x31,	0x54,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+
+		0xA9, 0xAA, 0xA8,	0x10, 0x4B, 0xBF,	0x47, 0x12, 0xD8,	0x63, 0x00, 0xCA,
+		0x88, 0x00, 0xA9,	0x93, 0x0B, 0x46,	0x8A, 0x2D, 0x04,	0x6F, 0x52, 0x06,
+		0x5C, 0x71, 0x14,	0x1B, 0x8D, 0x12,	0x19, 0x95, 0x09,	0x17, 0x84, 0x48,
+		0x20, 0x6B, 0x8E,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+
+		0xFB, 0xFB, 0xFB,	0x66, 0x99, 0xF8,	0x89, 0x74, 0xF9,	0xAB, 0x58, 0xF8,
+		0xD5, 0x57, 0xEF,	0xDE, 0x5F, 0xA9,	0xDC, 0x7F, 0x59,	0xC7, 0xA2, 0x24,
+		0xA7, 0xBE, 0x03,	0x75, 0xD7, 0x03,	0x60, 0xE3, 0x4F,	0x3C, 0xD6, 0x8D,
+		0x56, 0xC9, 0xCC,	0x41, 0x42, 0x40,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+
+		0xFB, 0xFB, 0xFB,	0xBE, 0xD4, 0xFA,	0xC9, 0xC7, 0xF9,	0xD7, 0xBE, 0xFA,
+		0xE8, 0xB8, 0xF9,	0xF5, 0xBA, 0xE5,	0xF3, 0xCA, 0xC2,	0xDF, 0xCD, 0xA7,
+		0xD9, 0xE0, 0x9C,	0xC9, 0xEB, 0x9E,	0xC0, 0xED, 0xB8,	0xB5, 0xF4, 0xC7,
+		0xB9, 0xEA, 0xE9,	0xAB, 0xAB, 0xAB,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,	0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
 	};
 
 	static const byte tableAmigaPalette[] = {
@@ -160,7 +190,10 @@ void ScummEngine::resetPalette() {
 		} else if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformC64) {
 			setPaletteFromTable(tableC64Palette, sizeof(tableC64Palette) / 3);
 		} else if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformNES) {
-			setPaletteFromTable(tableNESPalette, sizeof(tableNESPalette) / 3);
+			if (ConfMan.getBool("mm_nes_classic_palette"))
+				setPaletteFromTable(tableNESClassicPalette, sizeof(tableNESClassicPalette) / 3);
+			else
+				setPaletteFromTable(tableNESNTSCPalette, sizeof(tableNESNTSCPalette) / 3);
 		} else {
 			setPaletteFromTable(tableV1Palette, sizeof(tableV1Palette) / 3);
 			if (_game.id == GID_ZAK)
diff --git a/engines/scumm/scumm.cpp b/engines/scumm/scumm.cpp
index c499c8d2300..6ffada45c6b 100644
--- a/engines/scumm/scumm.cpp
+++ b/engines/scumm/scumm.cpp
@@ -1311,7 +1311,10 @@ Common::Error ScummEngine::init() {
 			return Common::Error(Common::kUnsupportedColorMode, "This game requires dual graphics layer support which is disabled in this build");
 #endif
 			initGraphics(screenWidth, screenHeight);
-		}
+
+			if (_game.platform == Common::kPlatformNES)
+				_system->fillScreen(0x1d);
+			}
 	}
 
 	_outputPixelFormat = _system->getScreenFormat();